Q. I’ve just unexpectedly discovered the house I’m buying is in a conservation area how does this impact me as a buyer – I understand there will be various restrictions placed upon me as an owner?
A. Surprisingly Canary Wharf with its brand new shiny sky scrapers would be the last place you would expect to find a conservation area. There are now over 8,000 such areas in England; and given the numbers, it’s obvious that the designation is not restricted to a few picturesque cottages in villages outside town. Roughly since the mid sixties, local councils have had the power to identify areas of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance is worth protecting or enhancing. The status of conservation area has been deliberated over numerous buildings and areas on fishing and mining villages, eighteenth and nineteenth century suburbs, model housing estates, country house estates, historic transport links and their environs, and even stretches of canal. This wide reach is due to the fact that, unlike listed building status, our conservation areas are not chosen based on the quality or history of their buildings alone. Factors such as the historic layout of roads, paths and boundaries, the use of building materials, public and private spaces, and trees and street furniture, are all considered when choosing areas worthy of our protection. The main reason that many conservation areas are not now buried under new shiny developments is that the local authorities retain tight controls over demolition, minor developments and even the trees within a conservation area. So, your neighbour may be able, under their permitted development rights, to extend, add dormers windows, apply stone cladding, and replace old windows with new double glazed ones. But, if you live within a conservation area and you try it yourself, you’ll face a fine and be forced to put everything back as was. The restrictions imposed will vary depending on the area, but owners may even be prevented from painting their house a different colour to their neighbours’ homes, unless they can make a good historical argument for the change. Although the restrictions may sound limiting they can add to your maintenance bills and improvements such as UPVC windows, and satellite dishes would be out of the question the responsibilities that come with living in a conservation area are far outweighed by the sheer pleasure of the surroundings.